The AAAS Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture is an important opportunity to explore the environmental and societal challenges facing our planet through the lens of agricultural innovation and its applications in a global context. In 2023, we present the 13th Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture, which will be a part of the AAAS 175th anniversary celebration. In light of the AAAS anniversary, the Lecture will reflect on how the history of science and technology has impacted agriculture, and look forward to how innovation can help address the future of food security and environmental challenges. The annual lecture is a collaboration between AAAS, RMF, and the World Food Prize Foundation. This year’s hybrid lecture will feature Dr. Joe Cornelius, Chief Executive Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Agricultural Innovations (Gates Ag One).